Low velocity practice cartridge for firearms



Nov. 12, 957 A, L. FITZSIMMONS 2,12,713

LOW VELOCITY PRACTICE CARTRIDGE FOR FIREARMS Filed May 24, 1955 3a 2 z z[W F- --r;:* I A T 58 r "48 40 f 1, g m 2f: 22 Z4 Z6 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\WW ii 346 /g H I V 53 E 9' a 22 INVENTOR. 426/775 L. F/TZS/MMO/VS,

IQTTOENE VS.

LOW VELQCITY PRACTICE CARTRIDGE FOR FIREARMS Archie L. Fitzsimmons,Conchas Dam, N. Mex.

Application May 24, 1955, Serial No. 510,611

7 Claims. (Cl. 102-41) The present invention relates to an improvedtarget practice cartridge for use in conventional firearms, and havingthe length, cross sectional size, configurations, external markings andshape of a conventional cartridge ordinarily used therein, and enablingloading and'ejection of the practice cartridge in the manner of aconventional cartridge, and the firing from the barrel of a firearm of apellet of any desired shape, at low velocity.

The invention has utility in enabling practice in the use of aconventional firearm, by close duplication of normal firing conditions,so that no changes in sight picture, trigger pull, weight of thefirearm, a normal hold are involved, so that a user can practice firingin places where use of the firearm with conventional, high velocitycarfridges is not feasible or safe.

The main object of the present invention is to provide target practicecartridges of the character indicated above, which are adapted fortarget practice at reduced ranges, either in or out of doors, whichreduce objectionable noise and expense, and which provide for normalfirearm practice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practice cartridge ofthis kind which is practical and efficient in use, and which can be madein serviceable forms at relatively low cost.

Other objects will appear from the following description, and from theannexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like partsthroughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a practice cartridge according tothe invention;

Figure 2 is a longimdinal sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse section, on the same scale as Figure 3, on line4-4 of Figure 2.

The illustrated cartridge comprises an elongated pellet tube 16 havingan axial bore having an open forward end 19 through which a pellet P isdischarged toward a target. The tube 16, for a substantial part of itslength, has a gently forwardly tapered outer surface 20 merging at itsforward end into a more sharply tapered, relatively short portion 22which merges at its forward end into a smaller diameter portion 24, alsoshort in length and of uniform outside diameter. Portion 24 terminatesin a reduced cylindrical portion 26, defining with the portion 24 anannual shoulder 28, these portions being arranged to fit correspondingportions of the cartridge chamber of a firearm.

The tube 16 terminates at its larger rear end in a short reduceddiameter cylindrical rear portion 30, which with the portion 30 definesan annular shoulder 32.

At its rear end the tube 16 is closed by an end wall 34. Formed in theend wall 34 and communicating with the bore 18 is an annular series offorwardly converging ports 36 spaced ninety degrees apart.

Removably engaged on the rear end portion 39 of the 2,812,713 PatentedNov. 12, 1957 tube 16 is a relatively short tubular head 12 which has acylindrical forwardly tapered outer surface 37 matching. the taper ofthe outer surface 20 of the tube 16. At the larger rear end of the head12 is an integrally formed cylindrical, relatively short portion 40 ofincreased diameter, formed intermediate its ends with a circumferentialextractor groove 42 to enable ejection of the cartridge 11) from afirearm after firing thereof.

The external configuration, cross sectional size, and/or combined lengthof the head 12 and tube 16 are such as to closely simulate thecorresponding characteristics of a conventional cartridge, so that thepractice cartridge 10 can be loaded in and ejected from a firearm in themanner of a conventional cartridge. This is a characteristic ofimportance, in view of the fact that the practice obtained through useof the cartridge is designed to produce increased facility on the partof the user in the handling of the firearm.

The bore 38 of the head 12 has open forward and rear ends 39 and 41,respectively, and the forward end 3? has a counterbore 43, larger indiameter than the bore 38 and of substantially the same diameter as andreceiving the reduced rear end portion 30 of the tube 16. Thecounterbore 43 defines with the forward end of the head 12 an annularshoulder 45. The head 12 is detachably secured on the tube portion 30,and a bayonet slot 44 in its forward end 39 receiving a pin 46projecting radially outwardly from the portion 30 of the tube 16. Anannular resilient sealing gasket 48 to reduce the amount of escapinggases to a minimum, is engaged on the portion 30 and compressed betweenthe tube shoulder 32 and the forward end 39 of the head 12.

A solid cylindrical firing pin 14, shorter than the head 12, is slidablyengaged in the bore 33 of the head and has intermediate its ends a notch52 (Figure 3) through which extends a cross pin 54 driven into atransverse bore 47 formed in the head 12. Sliding movement of the firingpin 14 in opposite directions is limited by engagement of the cross pin54 with opposite ends of the notch 52. The firing pin is thuspermanently assembly with the head 12, for limited axial slidingmovement in opposite directions within the head.

In its rear end 50 the firing pin 14 has an axial recess 56, in which isengaged an insert 58 of a material softer than the firing pin of afirearm, so that the firing pin of the arm will not be damaged. Theinsert 58 can be formed of fiber, while the firing pin 14 can be of mildsteel or the like.

To load the cartridge 10 for firing, the head 12 is removed from thetube 16 and a percussion cap 643, of the type used in childrens toypistols, is positioned in the counterbore 4-3 against the shoulder 45.Alternately, a conventional cartridge primer, or a bit of detonatingcompound in any shape, can be used instead of the cap 613. The head 12is then secured on the tube 16. With a pellet P positioned in the bore18 at the rear end thereof, the cartridge is loaded in the firearm inthe normal manner. On firing of the firearm, the firing pin thereof, notshown, will strike the firing pin 14 and drive the firing pin 14forwardly in the head 12 and detonate the cap 60. The gases from theexplosion of the percussion cap 6! pass through the ports 36 behind thepellet P and expel the pellet, at relatively low velocity, from theforward end 19 of the tube bore 18. After firing, the cartridge can beejected from the arm in the normal manner, reloaded, and used again.

The pellet can take any desired form, and as shown can be a smooth slug,or alternatively, a round ball, a dart, or rifled slug. Further, thebore 18 of the tube 16 can also be rifled if desired.

The provision of the gasket 48, it should be noted, provides a gas sealand also provides sufficient cushion to assure that the cartridge willbe accurately centered in the cartridge chamber of the firearm,regardless of minor variations in the inside dimensions of differentfiring chambers.

The illustrated cartridge is for use in a rifle. However, changes can bemade in the outer shape of the cartridge to adapt it for use in anyfirearm using conventional cartridges.

Further, the disposition of the apertures 36 as shown leaves an area ofsolid metal at the center of the end wall 34, serving as an anvil toinsure that the propellant cap 60 will be crushed between the firing pinand the solid center section of said end wall.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confinedto the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may beutilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the inventionto be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated anddescribed, since such construction is only intended to be illustrativeof the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehendsany minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore 1 in the bore ofthe head and having forward and rear ends,

at said end wall.

2. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the'forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore at said end wall,and releasable means securing the head on the reduced rear end portionof the pellet tube.

3. 'In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being small-er in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore at said end wall,and releasable means securing the head on the reduced rear end portionof the pellet tube, comprising a radial pin on said rear end portion anda bayonet slot in the forward end of the head engaged with said pin.

4. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating With said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged the forward end of thefiring pin being engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonatethe cap between the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall ofthe pellet a tube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore atsaid end wall, a cross pin inthe head bore and a notch in the ring pinreceiving the cross pin, said notch being'wider than the cross pin andhaving ends engageable with the cross pin to limit endwise movement ofthe firing pin in I the head in opposite directions.

5. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet. tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and'rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedreal-wardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore at said end wall,and an annular enlargement on the head at the rear end thereof havingtherein an ejector groove.

6. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated. pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore at said end wall,said head being similar in diameter to said pellet tube.

7. In a target practice cartridge, an elongated pellet tube havingforward and rear ends, said tube having an outer surface formed to fitthe cartridge chamber of a conventional firearm, said tube having anaxial bore opening through said forward end, an end wall closing therear end of the tube, gas ports extending through said end wall andcommunicating with said bore, said tube having a reduced diameter rearend portion extending to said rear end and defining an annular tubeshoulder spaced forwardly from said rear end, a tubular head havingforward and rear ends, and an axial bore opening through the head ends,the bore of the head being smaller in 7 diameter than said rear endportion of the tube, a counterbore in the forward end of the headslidably and rotatably receiving the rear end portion of the tube, saidcounterbore defining with the head bore a head shoulder spacedrearwardly from the forward end of the head, a percussion cap in saidcounterbore between the head shoulder and the end wall at the rear endof the pellet tube, a firing pin slidably engaged in the bore of thehead and having forward and rear ends, the forward end of the firing pinbeing engageable with said percussion cap so as to detonate the capbetween the forward end of the firing pin and the end wall of the pellettube, and a pellet positioned in the pellet tube bore at said end wall,and-a gasket on the reduced end portion between the tube shoulder andthe forward end of the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,538,561 Koller May 19, 1925 2,655,755 Nichols Oct. 20, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 4,145 Great Britain of 1895 180,445 Switzerland May 16, 1936

